Skirts are not for attention seeking

[GerdG]

But of course, they are. I wear skirts for attention and sometimes also for comfort. And I guess, attention plays a role for 95% of all people, men and women. Why else have something called fashion?

I need more than only wearing skirts within and around the house. Don't you have it the same way?
I want to be seen, even if something within me sometimes says, I should hate being seen and rather be invisible. Let's be honest, at least to ourselves.

When people ask me why, I tell them, it is because it is comfortable but first of all because it is different, understood I like the attention.

By the way, very many skirts are not comfortable. Long, narrow skirts are not. High heals are not, They are worn to create and get attention.

[Myopic Bookworm]

I sensed a couple of people looking covertly at me when I went to a music rehearsal recently, but I don't know whether they had noticed the denim kilt, or the fact that I was wearing socks with sandals

[jamie001]

Socks with sandals in a severe fashion police violation!

[Spirou003]

I guess that "looking for attention" is just one of the possible drivers for wearing a skirt, and this apply both for men and women.
I actually like that part of the wearing... but not always, there are times when I want to go invisible, then I revert to bland colors and trousers. I don't "revert to trousers" given that I mostly wear them, but the mood alone may make me opt for trousers instead of a skirt even if all other lights are green for a skirt (happened one year ago during more than a month, in the sunny part of the summer... and stopped to welcome the next 8 rainy months :-/)

[Mouse]

I have addoped skirts as my normal attire, so looking for attention is more a lottery of where I go and who I meet. I guess I have some input in which skirt I wear, but I think that is more in my head than what other people are thinking.

[geron]

Socks with sandals in a severe fashion police violation!

Are you sure? There seems to be a vogue for it right now. Example:
https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/fa ... 58157.html

[LiuBang]

I mean women in STEM sometimes actually say they dress up in a nice dress to work to show that they're not like the guys. So why can't we dress up to similarly express our individuality?

Though generally I'd agree, just be kind of low key with male skirt wearing. Low-key is how things get normalized for men's fashion. The fashion houses fail in marketing men's skirts because they're usually flashy and loudly pushing "androgyny". No wonder there's then a ton of push back from ultra-conservatives. Don't do that. Men's skirts are simply about expressing yourself while looking masculine. Has nothing to do with androgyny.

[Ozdelights]

Socks with sandals in a severe fashion police violation!

Are you sure? There seems to be a vogue for it right now. Example:
https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/fa ... 58157.html

They all appear with shoes, not one sandal in sight. It was a fashion statement that never took hold around here.

[jamie001]

Men's skirts are simply about expressing yourself while looking masculine. Has nothing to do with androgyny.

Not all of us here on the cafe are about presenting masculine. Some of us are, and some of us are not! Fashion freedom is about presenting in clothing that we enjoy and are comfortable wearing for whatever the reason. Adding “expressing yourself while looking masculine” simply pushes men back into the Man-Box of conformity. Not a good scene.

[DrFishnets]

Though generally I'd agree, just be kind of low key with male skirt wearing.

I only dress up in skirts and dresses that are black, dark greys or dark colours so to avoid getting attention. With that I have the nice feeling of wearing a skirt or dress without being worried of too much attention. The same can be said for kilts. I try to stick to dark based tartans though I do have a kilt that has lovely light purples in it that I’d love to wear but don’t have the courage yet to.

[GerdG]

They all appear with shoes, not one sandal in sight. It was a fashion statement that never took hold around here.

True, but the season has just started.
Personally, I don't like sandals with socks. But I very much like socks worn with sneakers, like sneaker socks, ankle socks, and knee high socks, also white ones.

[mishawakaskirt]

I don't want the added attention that wearing kilts and skirts bring. This year I'm at the point of almost giving up and letting the skirt naysayers win.
By now in summer I would have worn some form of skirt or skort out in public atleast a half a dozen times.

I have yet to wear one out in public this summer.

We have also gotten a smaller auto, and it's less discreet to do my quick changes in. So skirting while driving has been reduced significantly to less than 5 times since we got the new car in December.

I got a nice compliment the other day while I was wearing a pair of shortalls. I was told" cute shortalls". It does seem like the only time I get compliments on my clothes is when they are women's. Even being reasonably benign, apparently my clothes are just enough different to Garner an occasional comment. All have been positive with the exception of comments from my wife. Keep in mind these comments from her are not even about skirts, they about denim shorts, jeans, or shortalls. That might have just a bump too much feminine to them, actually I'll attach a picture of what got positive comments from others and negative comments from my wife.

I probably do look ridiculous, like a little kid wearing shortalls. But they are comfortable, and less attention attracting than skirts and kilts

[GerdG]

A rather sad story, Mishawakaskirt. You used to be much more positive.
You don’t want the attention that comes with a kilt or a skirt. Well, I think that in the last 5-10 years, it makes hardly a difference whether you are in a skirt or in jeans or shorts. People simply don’t care what other people are wearing.
And the new smaller car makes it almost impossible, you say. I don’t agree. Even small European cars are big enough for an unproblematic change, should it be. But why change clothes in a car, unless it also is your home?
Why not just walk out of your door in that kilt or other skirt, you want to wear?

Like you say, "Avoid the middle man, wear a kilt or skirt."

[denimini]

I think that those who wear skirts to get attention would generally be disappointed. From my experience of wearing mini skirts with otherwise "normal" garments there has been very little attention at all, perhaps a second glance at the most which an unusual hairstyle or bright socks might bring. There are members here that do seem to get some attention, which I would attribute to overall creative, imposing and well put together outfits rather than just the skirt.

Today I had what might be considered a control test regarding the context of this thread.
I went on the bus to Broken Hill for an eye check and do a bit of shopping, the usual stuff, and due to a forecast of very cold weather I wore pants (PANTS!). I recieved exactly the same kind, friendly and helpful service that I am normally accustomed to. I noticed the pants myself predominantly when I was walking and when going for a pee, both negative experiences. Not having a vehicle in the big city, I did a lot of walking and could feel the drag of fabric on my knees and fluttering of cuffs around my ankle which I am sure slowed my gait. On the positive side they were corduroy material, trendy 50 years ago and warm today. Also appreciated the no skin contact on public seating.

[webboy42]

Whether or not I want to grab attention with skirt wearing, my most attention grabbing item is actually the white cane in my hand, which has the unfortunate side effect of short circuiting the conversational abilities of people who see it ("Do you need help?" is not a greeting thank you). My skirts apparently make me distinctive in my local area, but I've never received comments directly, and of course I not able to see double takes or strange looks. I also find that most people apparently see what they expect and not what is, having my skirt identified as pants at least once.